FRANCHISE ANALYZER

Happy Feet/Legends offers soccer programs for kids and teens. Happy Feet is a mobile program that focuses on younger children, ages 2-6. Legends is for older kids, teaching them valuable life skills through soccer-based activities and drills. Founded in 1989 and franchised in 2007, the HappyFeet/Legends soccer programs are now taught via more than 51 operations worldwide.

In 1969 a jazz dance teacher in Evanston, Illinois first came up with her idea to modify traditional dance moves to create a fun and effective total body fitness program. This instructor, named Judi Sheppard Missett, took the concept - which she called Jazzercise - to California with her when she moved there in 1977. The unique workout program was popular among fellow instructors and their students and by 1982, Jazzercise had become a franchised company. Now a well known institution of dance infused exercise programs, Jazzercise Inc. has trained more than 5,000 instructors in Judi’s signature methods.

Shannon Wilburn and Daven Tackett started Just Between Friends in 1997 as a way for parents to sell and exchange their gently used maternity and childrens items. Now overseeing over 100 independently franchised locations, the Just Between Friends company has made a name for itself in the entrepreneurial world.

Kinderdance provides on-site dance instructions programs for pre-school children. The company was started in 1979 near Phoenix, Arizona by Carol Kay Harsell, a dance teacher who wanted to share the benefits of dance with more kids. Kinderdance sold its first franchise in 1985 and has since expanded to include over 125 locations.

MaidPro was started by Mark Kushinsky and Richard Sparacio in 1991. Kushinsky had recently hired three separate cleaning services to clean his home and was disappointed with every one. Not only had his house been cleaned poorly, the customer service was also bad. This experience prompted him to start his own cleaning company. Following Kushinsky’s regimented cleaning and customer service model, MaidPro grew into the network of over 180 franchises that it is today.

Mini Cities was founded in 2008 by Steve and Ana Abraham. After relocating from the city to the suburbs Ana (a former web marketing and software project management professional) and Steve (a Microsoft technology expert) combined their expertise to form a local directory help residents of their new town find local businesses more easily. They franchised the idea the next year and Mini Cities now has over 60 local websites in operation.

Mint Condition is a firm that sells cleaning and janitorial franchises. The company provides custodial services for businesses, helping them to maintain their buildings for enhanced health, safety, and productivity. The Mint Condition concept is interactive, and specialists work with clients to tailor specific cleaning and maintenance programs according to their individual needs.

The Mountain Mudd Espresso chain started out as a small coffee stand located in Billings, Montana. Established in 1994, the company serves high quality Italian espresso from kiosks and drive-through stands. The company sought franchising in 2007 and there are currently 25 Mountain Mudd Espresso locations in the United States.

Founder Todd Hopkins started Office Pride Commercial Cleaning in 1992. His business model was one of integrity and exemplary work ethics. Employees are expected to hold themselves to high standards of honesty and sense of purpose. Office Pride entered the franchising arena in 1996, and has steadily grown into the more than 120 independent operations it is today.

Formed and franchised in 1983, OpenWorks provides cleaning and maintenance for commercial customers. The OpenWorks building maintenance concept is one that seeks to create quantifiable value in the form of increased productivity and more streamlined operations through efficient cleaning and maintenance programs. Today, around 300 OpenWorks franchises are in operation.

Proforma specializes in providing customers with materials for marketing and communication in business. Founded in 1978 by Greg Muzzillo with $200 in startup money, the company grew rapidly and by 1986 Muzzillo took his successful brand to the next level, developing a solid model and branching out into the franchising world. The following decades would see more than 750 Proforma locations open up in the U.S. and abroad.

More than 650 Results! independent agencies in the United States. The company offers a unique opportunity, allowing already-established travel agencies to buy in and benefit from their contacts and resources while keeping their own unique brand identity. The Results! venture was formed in 2000 and has headquarters in Fairfield, Connecticut.

Sears Home Business Franchises is a collection of related companies providing a variety of home services. Service providers in this network include appliance repair companies, carpet cleaning outfits, duct and vent cleaning services, and more. All operate under the Sears name and build trusting relationships with clients to encourage repeat business and customer loyalty.

Capitalizing off the multi-billion dollar pet care industry, Sit Means Sit sells dog training franchises in the United States and is looking to expand into Canada. The company trains its franchisees extensively in all of the latest techniques. Sit Means Sit businesses are home-based and there are more than 50 independently owned franchises so far.

Snaggle Foot is a pet care company offering pet owners services like pet-sitting and dog-walking. In keeping with the company’s model of giving their clients peace of mind, all employees must undergo pre-employment drug testing as well as a background check. The company was founded in 2006, and franchise opportunities were made available in 2008.

Joseph Johnson and William Seidemann started Snap-On Wrenches in 1920. They sold kits that consisted of five wrenches and ten interchangeable socket heads. The two would travel to garages, marinas - anywhere their tools might be useful - and hold demonstrations. Customers were impressed and Snap-On quickly grew a healthy following of loyal clientele. Snap-On Tools still holds true to its roots, providing on-site delivery to thousands of shops and garages. They have expanded their inventory quite substantially and now offer well over 20,000 different varieties of hand held tools through nearly 5,000 franchises in several countries.

Jeremy Sorzano formed Soccer Shots in 1996, then calling it Soccer Pals. A few years later, friend Jason Webb joined him as partner and they changed the name to Soccer Shots. Both former college soccer players, the two partners used their skills and knowledge to set up training programs for young children. The two franchised the company in 2005. They have since taken on a third partner, Justin Bredeman, and have opened over 100 locations.

Dennis Jarrett and Pete Freese founded Stratus Building Solutions in 2004, using their 20 years of combined experience in the industry to create a professional cleaning company catering to corporate customers. Stratus became a franchise the very next year, and has become known for providing innovative cleaning, maintenance, and security solutions that integrate the latest in environmentally friendly standards and practices.

Bill Mitchell, Bill Costello, and David Casey founded SuperGlass in 1992 in Atlanta, Georgia. The three businessmen franchised their company the next year, eventually expanding throughout the United States and into several other countries around the world. With nearly 275 SuperGlass locations now in operation, the momentum shows no signs of slowing down.

System4 was started as a joint venture between entrepreneurs Edward Hammer and Phil Kubec. Hammer had a number of startups under his belt prior to the founding of System4, including a rental car company. Kubec had run a commercial cleaning outfit. The system4 company now franchises and trains technicians to provide professional janitorial services to clients from over 1,000 locations in the United States.